Physical Peak Years

Three Seasons

What do you think is a person's physical peak years assuming a healthy lifestyle?

I think it is usually overestimated at late twenties. I think it's probably around 23- 25.

If you look at tennis players and sprinters they seem to peak at around 23-25.

FatherLen

it really depends, i know for martial arts it is usually in the 20's.

seamus

Seems to depend on the sport and the person. Soccer players seem to peak between 23 and 28. Cyclists between 25 and 35. Golfers between 30 and 40.

Usain Bolt appears to be at his absolute peak in what is arguably the rawest measure of human physicality, at 25 (he's 26 now).

In terms of the ability to improve one's fitness and recover from effort, you're probably right in that the early 20s are the key years.

But competing successfully requires mental training and maturity as well, which is probably why the balance between physical fitness and mental maturity lands in the latter part of the 20s rather than the earlier.

Different sports require a different mental attitude - golf for example requires massive ability to put fears aside and concentrate on the moment. This is something which a younger person will find harder than an older person. Long-distance runners tend to peak later than sprinters - again probably due to the greater patience and mental "zen" of an older person.

robinph

Depends on the event you are talking about. If it is speed and agility then earlier than if strength and endurance are the main traits for the event.

Balmed Out

Gymnastics earlier
Swimming typically earlier but quite likey due to mental burn out rather then physical reasons.
Physical sports would be late 20's.
Agility would be earlier.

Three Seasons

I think the sports which rely on physique moreso than other attributes see competitors peak earlier at early to mid twenties.

Darts and golf rely on physical prowess much less than a 100m sprinter for example.

Balmed Out

Three Seasons wrote: »

I think the sports which rely on physique moreso than other attributes see competitors peak earlier at early to mid twenties.

Darts and golf rely on physical prowess much less than a 100m sprinter for example.

Sports with strength being most important peak later, as in late 20s or even early thirthies

topper75

Mid thirties here.

Speed and agility are going backwards now as I expected.

However, strength and endurance are best ever, and could even prob be improved slightly.

kylith

I was told by a swimming coach that about 32 is the limit of peak fitness. After that age nothing you can do will get you back to tip top condition.

unkel

Depends on what kinda physical peak. Also men peak much later than women. Here's an interesting article. It says about mid to long distance running and men:

the average age of world champion distance runners in the 3-mi (5,000 m) races through to the 26-mi marathons (42.2 km) ranges between 28 and 32 years of age. From this peak of ability, runners will continue to perform at levels close to their personal best into their late 30s and early 40s; performance then declines at a rate of approximately 2% per year through age 80

Cee-Jay-Cee

I am fitter now than I ever was before. I'm 43.

Pilotdude5

My 19 year old self could kick my ass in anything. only had dial-up internet back then of course.

LuckyLloyd

CJC999 wrote: »

I am fitter now than I ever was before. I'm 43.

That may well be, but your potential for peak fitness is less now than it was 20 years ago. Lots of people don't train or physically exercise during their late teens and twenties and take it up in their thirties because of new found health concerns. They may very well end up enjoying great health for the next 20 - 30 years but the better health and fitness achieved is just an indicator of the more talent that was wasted...

darced

This post has been deleted.

squod

In terms of strength, mid thirties. Reaction time, cardio vascular fitness and co-ordination early twenties. Sexual libido & agility, mid teens.

This is amazing for an 'aul fella. Stan Efferding 45 years old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMjzC5x2BHw

maco12

depends how u treat your body!..some age quicker than others!

TeddyTedson

Great so I'm passed it then

maco12

ID BE MORE WORRIED IF MY AGE AND iq PASS EACH OTHER IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION!

TheLastMohican

The wife tells me that I'm like a child. So I guess I should be peaking physically and sexually in 15 years time. Good. I can run to the Post Office to collect the pension before running home and tearing up the stairs for a bit of how's your father. WooooooHoooooooooooo

ScumLord

MMA fighters would be a good example of needing the full package. You have to be fit, strong and smart about the way you fight. For those guys it seems to be 25-35 when they're at their best. The young guys may have speed on their side but don't have the experience to know how to use it properly.

Luckily if you're fat as a young person you can get fitter as you age, making it seem like you're improving with age..

Sugar Free

It varies hugely if you're talking about sport. I suppose speaking very generally, the range where a decline is likely to begin would probably be 28-32 for most things.

I'm not basing this off any scientific evidence what so ever obviously! Just observations of various sports and sports people.

Another thing to consider in this would be to look at the age cut off for joining various militaries or branches of it.

I believe it is 25 to join the PDF going the non-commisioned route, 27 with officer entry.

BA I think can be up to 32, 28 for officer entry.

Given the military in most cases will be a physically demanding career (at least at more junior ranks), these age ranges are perhaps a better indicator of when peak fitness occurs than looking at elite sportspeople.

castletownman

Top level sport (Intercounty GAA, professional soccer, international rugby): 23-30
Lower level sport (club GAA, amateur soccer and rugby): 23-34

But it varies. I think rugby players tend to peak early and finish their careers earlier as opposed to say GAA players, mainly due to the physical demands of the sport.

Golfers tend to peak in their 30's but that's as much mental as physical.

Boxers are generally finished in their mid-30's. Well maybe not finished, but certainly not as nimble or powerful as their peak.

MILF porn actresses really hit top form from 30+

Hanley

Training age is important. The earlier you start specialising in a highly anaerobic/reaction based sPort, the younger your peak years.

Pure strength/endurance sports tend to peak later because the physical qualities needed take longer to build and people tend to get into them later.

pickarooney

seamus wrote: »

Different sports require a different mental attitude - golf for example requires massive ability to put fears aside and concentrate on the moment. This is something which a younger person will find harder than an older person. Long-distance runners tend to peak later than sprinters - again probably due to the greater patience and mental "zen" of an older person.

Nah, the young and fearless make the best golfers once they've started training early enough. The reason there are so many older golfers in the pro ranks is that most of them take the game up when they're past their best for any other sport.

af_thefragile

Mine was probably 18-22ish. Over the past few years I've just become a lazy slob...